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2K Games has appointed Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to oversee the development team at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Shift Follows Lukewarm Feedback

Brinkman takes on the leadership position at 31st Union following the departure of previous head the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming initial reveal last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure notified employees about this decision through an official communication, which emphasized that early feedback sessions had revealed the requirement for a distinct game identity.

Ismailer expressed that the team is now reimagining Project Ethos with a revised approach, aiming to satisfy community desires.

Trend of Strategic Acquisitions

This announcement echoes a comparable action taken by the publisher in the summer, when they brought on an industry veteran from the Diablo team to work on the beloved franchise development group.

Below is the entire text from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the good news. Previously I shared you all a message, I stated the following: “I believe in this crew. You all are some of the most dedicated and creative creators we have had the opportunity to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.

The player input from last autumn’s the game testing phase was informative. It affirmed the promise of a action-packed game but told us we still had improvements to make. It revealed the necessity for a sharper brand.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the feedback to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed goal - one that’s poised to fulfill its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS increases every day. To boost the outstanding progress you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the latest Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of discussions, he comes aboard us on the specified date.

Ben’s management and expertise in the PVP shooter genre is vast, having spent the recent years developing and overseeing some of the most recognizable franchises in the industry, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.

Please join me in greeting him next week. We are all looking forward to persist observing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the New Head

The appointee currently serves in the role of executive producer and head of production at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at Treyarch and Activision in diverse development positions on the iconic franchise games, and, earlier in his career, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Title Details and Concept

The upcoming game was revealed in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. At the time, 31st Union presented the title as a "no-cost, third-person perspective action-packed experience and an thrilling step forward on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in real-time to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch states. "Challenge the rivals with unique powers, challenges, and challenges that change every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your valuable rewards? Or go big, gamble everything, and trust your squad can secure victory? The decision is up to you."

Project Ethos has not yet received an announced debut schedule or platforms, but enthusiasts can expect further news as creation advances.